Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez are officially going their separate ways.
The gigging sensation and former baseball slugger, who have been a couple since 2017, have called off their two-year engagement and will focus on the remaining friends.
The two revealed the news in an exclusive joint statement to TODAY.
We have realized that we are better as friends and look forward to staying that way. We will continue to work together and support each other in our shared businesses and projects. We wish each other and each other’s children the best. Out of respect for them, the only other comment we have to say is to thank everyone who has sent kind words and support.
Reports first circulated in March that they had called off their engagement, but multiple sources told TODAY at the time that the two “never officially broke up” and were still together.
“They had a rough patch that made them think about what to do,” the sources added, noting that it was difficult for the couple to see each other amid COVID-19 restrictions while Lopez, 51, worked in the Dominican Republic and Rodriguez, 45, was in Miami.
‘All reports are inaccurate. We are working on a number of things, ”Lopez and Rodriguez also told TODAY in a joint statement in March.
Earlier this week, however, rumors broke again when Lopez shared a series of selfies from the set of her new movie, “Shotgun Wedding,” and her engagement ring was missing from the photos.
Lopez and Rodriguez announced their engagement in March 2019 after two years of dating. Rodriguez in the Bahamas.
Lopez was previously married to Ojani Noa (1997–1998), Cris Judd (2001–2003), and Marc Anthony (2004–2014), with whom she shares 13-year-old twins Max and Emme.
In 2018, she opened TODAY on Sunday in an interview with Willie Geist about her special bond with Rodriguez.
“He has brought something into my life that I have never had before, which is unconditional support and love, kind of like twin souls matching,” she said. “That’s different for me – now I know what it’s like to be with me. He works just as much as I do, he’s a little bit as passionate as I am. “
Rodriguez is father to daughters Natasha, 16, and Ella, 12, with ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis, and he and Lopez have shared some of their joyous moments as a blended family on social media.
“Children are so beautiful and open to love and new friends,” Lopez told People in 2018.
“I was so sweet to his kids and he was so sweet and accepted mine, and they hugged each other right away,” she added.
Last year, Lopez visited TODAY and told Hoda Kotb that their wedding plans were on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m a little heartbroken because we had great plans,” she said. “I’m also like, ‘You know what? God has a bigger plan.’ ‘